Film processing equipment



Feb. 5, 1963 N. DJADJICH 3,076,401

FILM PROCESSING EQUIIPMEN'I Filed June 26, 1959 2 sheets-sum 1 F/G. I

,INVENTOR. NICK DJADJICH A 7' TOBNEYS Feb. 5, 1963 N. DJADJICH 3,

FILM PROCESSING EQUIPMENT Filed June 26, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. N/cK DJADJICH A TTORNEYS 3,076,401 Patented Feb. 5, 1963 3,076,401 FILM PROCESSING EQUIPMENT Nick Djatljich, Rahway, NJ assignor of one-half to George Vujnovich, Jackson Heights, N. Filed June 26, 1959, Ser. No. 823,122

5 Claims. (Cl. 9594) The invention here presented is broadly in the field of film developing machinery; more specifically it presents a device for automatically processing film by progressively moving the film through a series ofdevelopingfixing and washing tanks; and in detail it-is concerned with an automatic film developing machine which is compact, portable and versatile.

While devices for reproducing continuous lengths of film are well known, their construction, operation and use have been complicated by their large dimension. A

typical machine for this purpose may embody more than twenty-five separate tanks through which the film must be progressively fed. It has heretoforebeen thought to be advantageous to have all the tanks in one lineinorder that the film be properly guided. In this prior construction the undeveloped film is fed into the machine at one end and the finished, developed. film is. removed atzthe other to the great inconvenience of the operator.

Furthermore, depending primarily on thetype of film to be developed, only a small-percentage of thetotal number of tanks may be utilized in the developing process. For example, ifv the film to be developed :is of the black-and-white. type, only a relatively few tanks will be utilized; Additionally, each-of the commercially available color film. processes requires the 'use of "a different number of ,tanks. -Therefore,"whe'n actually-developing film requiring only; a few .tanks,,the;filmmust still advance past each of the remaining tanks before passing out of the device o'nto a;'take-ojfi reel: This waste of. available space and machinery has influenced thedesign of the prior machinery, in that they usually were manufactured for a specific, or several specific, films requiring only-a'limited number of tanks for developing. Only a few machines are designed with the maximum number of tanks, and these are utilized almost exclusivelytfor developing film requiring the-larger number of tanks.-

. It is acardinal-object of this invention therefore to provide a versatile film developing machine.

It is another primary object of this device to provide a compact and relatively portable means for; developing film. a a

- It isanother object of this-invention;to provide a'film developing machinewvherein some of the contained tanks may be'disconnected from the developing mechanism when not required-and thereby eliminate theunnecessary running offilm through or past them.

Still another object of this invention 1s to provide-a "film reproducing machine wherein the undeveloped film, ..the take-off reel and the machine controls are located on one face thereof. a

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a device of the character described that is economical and relatively simple tomanufacture.

Briefly stated,,the.above and still other objects of the invention are accomplished by providing two separable rows of tanks with means for. guiding the film from the undeveloped film reel through each of the tanks in the first row. Ifthefilm is then completely developed, it may be conducted out of the rear of the machine onto a take-off reel conveniently situated for the purpose. If on the. other hand, there remain several steps yet to be "performed on the film when it exits from the'last tank of the first row, the film may be guided around and through each of the tanks of the second row for completion of the, developing process. The film is then confilm.winding operation is clearly illustrated in the last device and further to facilitate the initial placing of the film or leader into the device.

In greater detail, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will appear in the following specification and recited in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which the same reference numerals indicate the same parts throughout the various figures and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a persepective view of the invention in the closed or operable position.- i FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the inside of the device illustrating the film being run continuously over spools through a series of tanks containing appropriate fluids, with the tanks illustrated in phantom.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the invention illustrating its two major halves in the open position.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the hinge joining the two major halves of the device.

..film drying box C may be locatedinprow B and. printing heads. may be spaced and located Where necessary.

It should here be noted that each of. the tanks in rows Aand B'rnay contain either a developing fluid, a fixing fluid, a coloring fluid, or a washing fluid, as required.

, A 'r'eel 9 with the film 10 to be developed feeds the ,film 10 downwardly into the first tank 12. As will be explained immediately hereinafter in greater detail, the film 10 winds upwardly and'downwardly through the first tank 12 as many times as necessary over spools 11,

11" etc. until finally it passes to the next tank 14 where the same operation is repeated. The same film winding operation is repeatedas many times as necessaryuntil the last tank 19 in row A is reached.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 2, the

tank 19. The film 10 passes ahead from the prior tank 18, passing over the first upper spool 20, and then down- Wardly into the tank 19. The film 10 is guided in a's'omewhat diagonal fashion under lower spool 21 and thenlupwardly in a reverse diagonal manner to the second upper spool 22. This diagonal criss-crossing through the tank is repeated as many times as necessary using spools above and below until the film has remained in the tank a predetermined period of time. The exact time may be carefully regulated and adjusted, within minute intervals by means of a depth control rod as at 25. All of the lower spools 21 etc. are mounted on a common substantially horizontal shaft 26 rotatably supported by a bushing as at 27. Bushing 27 in turn is rigidly fastened to depth control-rod 25. It is apparent, therefore, that when depth control rod 25 is raised or lowered even small intervals,

bushing 27-, horizontalshaft 26 and lower spools 21 etc. are raised or lowered a corresponding distance.

This in turn either increases (if depth control rod 25 is lowered) or decreases (if depth control rod 25 is raised) the length of film in the tank and therefore the total time the film remains in the tank.

It should further be observed that the upper spools 20, 22 etc. in each tank are similarly mounted on a common horizontal shaft 30. The upper shaft 30, however, is

fastened integrally to a toothed gear 31 which in turn is driven and rotated by an endless chain belt 32A or 32B. This driving action insures a smooth even and unstressed flow of the film through the device.

The operation described immediately above is duplicated in each of the tanks, be they for the purpose of developing, fixing, washing or coloring, thereby obtaining the maximum use thereof in the smallest area. Pumps D are provided with suitable piping depending therefrom to insure a continuous circulation of the various fluids in each of the tanks.

When the film advances to the last spool 35 of row A of the unit, it may be removed directly therefrom by a suitably positioned take-off reel 80 or may continue to row B as will be hereafter explained.

The film leaving the last spool 35 is guided downward and twisted 45 degrees so as to engage first side spool 40. The last mentioned spool is fastened to the frame of the unit in a freely rotatable manner and is perpendicular to upper spools 20, 22, 35 etc. so that the partially developed film will be conducted laterally to the second major row of tanks B. A second side spool 41 is fastened to row B of the unit in a freely rotatable manner and receives the laterally moving film.

From second side spool 41 the film moves upwardly and is twisted 45 degrees so as to engage the first upper spool 42 of row B. The film then passes upwardly and downwardly winding through the tanks of row B completing the developing process.

Before exiting from the unit the developed film may be required to pass through a conventional film drying box C and from there passes to the external take-off reel 45.

A motor 46 is provided to motivate endless chain belts 32A and 32B. In the embodiment illustrated one motor is provided for both chain belts with a clutch extension arrangement 81 to provide for free separation of the two rows of tanks A and B.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 the tanks comprising rows A and Bare completely covered in a light tight manner by an external housing 50 for daylight operation. For

ease of adjustment, depth control rods 25 may vertically extend from the housing 50. The take-off reel 45 and the reel containing the undeveloped film are secured to the housing 50; with a light tight cover 51 completely surrounding the reel so as to prevent premature exposure of the film. For convenience the controls for the unit are placed on a panel between the two mentioned reels. For example, 36 and 37 may represent heating and refrigeration thermostat controls; 38 may represent switches to be used for printing heads; 39 may represent individual controls for the circulating pumps; 43 may represent power controls for the printing heads; and 44'may represent a control for the motor thereby determining the speed of the film passing through the device.

The entire unit and housing 50 are preferably mounted on casters 54'for improved portability.

The unit as illustrated in FIGURE 1 is in the closed or operative position. An important feature of the invention however, is that it may be opened, or even disassembled, into its two major sections with ease and speed, FIG- URE 3 illustrates the unit in that open position. It is to be noted that the front face of the housing 50 incorporates a vertical hinge 60 joining both halves 61 and 62 of the housing 50. When stringing film or leader through the tanks, replacing the fluid in any of the tanks, or for any other reason access must be gained to the interior of the unit, it may simply be swung to the open position as here illustrated. Several fasteners, as of the Simmons type, may be provided in spaced intervals around the housing so as to lock the two halves closed when in the operation of developing film.

By removal of the single hinge pin 65 of hinge 60, best illustrated in FIGURE 4, the entire unit may be separated into two major parts for ease of handling.

It may be seen therefore, that this machine for the first time satisfies the need for a compact, portable, versatile and economical device for developing lengths of film. Its novel construction permits one-half to be operated for a less complicated process while the other half remains idle.

While there are above disclosed but a limited number of embodiments of the structure, process and product of the invention herein presented, it is possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed, and it is desired therefore that only such limitations be imposed on the appended claims as are stated therein or required by the prior art.

I claim:

1., A photographic developing machine for treating film, comprising, in combination, a plurality of film developing tanks, said tanks disposed in two spaced parallel rows, means including pulleys for guiding and conducting the film upwardly and downwardly through each of the tanks in the first of said two rows, a first side pulley rotatably mounted on the last tank of said first row to guide said film towards said second row, and a second said pulley rotatably mounted on the first tank of said second row to receive said film exiting from said first side pulley, and means including pulleys for guiding and conducting the film upwardly and downwardly through each of said tanks in said second row, hinge means connecting said first and said second rows of tanks, whereby said rows may be separated when required, said means for guiding and conducting said film in said first row having a first driving means and said means for guiding and conducting said film in said second row having a second driving means, said first driving means and said second driving means being in juxtaposition and rotatably connected whereby they may be activated by a single drive, said rotatable connection including clutch means whereby said first and said second driving means may be separated when said first and said second'rows of tanks are separated.

2. A device as described in claim 1 further including pump means to insure circulation within each of said tanks, said pump means located between said first and said second rows whereby they will be accessible when said first and said second rows of tanks are separated.

'3. A photographic developing machine for treating film comprising, in combination, a first row of film developing tanks,. and a second row of film developing tanks, said rows disposed in parallel relationship, hinge means connecting said first and said second rows of tanks whereby said r'ows may be separated when required, means including pulleys for guiding and conducting the film upwardly and downwardly through each of the tanks in the first of 'said 'rows, firstreel means positioned prior to the first tank of said first row for feeding the undeveloped film to said tank, second reel means positioned adjacent the last tank of said first row to take up said developed film.

4. A photographic developing machine for treating film comprising, in combination, a first row of film developing tanks, and a second row of film developing tanks, said rows disposed in parallel relationship, hinge means connecting said first and said second rows of tanks whereby said rows may be separated when required, means including pulleys for guiding and conducting the film upwardly and downwardlly through each of the tanks in the first of said rows, first reel means-positioned prior to the first tank of said first row for feeding the undeveloped film to said tank, second reel means positioned adjacent the last said first row to guide said film towards said second row,

and a second side pulley rotatably mounted on the first tank of said second row to receive said film exiting from said first side pulley, means including pulleys for guiding and conducting said film upwardly and downwardly through each of said tanks in said second row, and means for selectively guiding said film from said last tank of said first row to either said second reel means or said first side pulley.

5. A photographic developing machine for treating film comprising, in combination, a plurality of film developing tanks, said tanks disposed in two spaced parallel rows, hinge means rotatably connecting said rows whereby said rows may be separated when required, means including pulleys for guiding and conducting the film upwardly and downwardly through each of the tanks in the first of said two rows, a first side pulley rotatably mounted on the last tank of said first row to guide said film towards said second row, and a second side pulley rotatably mounted on the first tank of said second row to receive said film exiting from said first side pulley, and means including pulleys for guiding the film upwardly and downwardly through each of said tanks in said second row.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,444,818 Wescott Feb. 13, 1923 1,542,530 Salins June 16, 1925 1,586,710 Scott June 1, 1926 2,461,419 Forgett Feb. 8, 1949 10 2,810,332 Dignan Oct. 22, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 66,953 Netherlands Dec. 15, 1950 

1. A PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING MACHINE FOR TREATING FILM, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF FILM DEVELOPING TANKS, SAID TANKS DISPOSED IN TWO SPACED PARALLEL ROWS, MEANS INCLUDING PULLEYS FOR GUIDING AND CONDUCTING THE FILM UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY THROUGH EACH OF THE TANKS IN THE FIRST OF SAID TWO ROWS, A FIRST SIDE PULLEY ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE LAST TANK OF SAID FIRST ROW TO GUIDE SAID FILM TOWARDS SAID SECOND ROW, AND A SECOND SAID PULLEY ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE FIRST TANK OF SAID SECOND ROW TO RECEIVE SAID FILM EXITING FROM SAID FIRST SIDE PULLEY, AND MEANS INCLUDING PULLEYS FOR GUIDING AND CONDUCTING THE FILM UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY THROUGH EACH OF SAID TANKS IN SAID SECOND ROW, HINGE MEANS CONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SAID SECOND ROWS OF TANKS, WHEREBY SAID ROWS MAY BE SEPARATED WHEN REQUIRED, SAID MEANS FOR GUIDING AND CONDUCTING SAID FILM IN SAID FIRST ROW HAVING A FIRST DRIVING MEANS AND SAID MEANS FOR GUIDING AND CONDUCTING 